Fly Economy in Style: Your Complete Guide To Porter Airlines

Let’s talk about Porter Airlines, and how you can fly this regional airline for free.

Porter Airlines is a regional airline based in Toronto, Canada. It is known for its distinctive service and convenient travel experience, primarily serving destinations in Canada and the United States.

One of the notable features of Porter Airlines is its main hub at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is located on Toronto Island, just minutes away from the downtown core of Toronto. This proximity offers passengers the advantage of avoiding the often congested main airports and enjoying a quicker and more convenient travel experience.

Porter Airlines is recognized for its exceptional customer service, comfortable seating, and complimentary in-flight amenities, including snacks and beverages.

Stepping into the world of air travel with Porter Airlines is like embarking on a journey where every detail is meticulously crafted to offer passengers an unparalleled experience. From the moment you set foot in their charmingly efficient terminals, you are greeted with a sense of warmth and hospitality that sets the tone for the entire flight. As the engines hum and the plane gracefully takes off, you can’t help but marvel at the seamless blend of convenience, comfort, and class that defines flying with Porter Airlines.

In this blog post, we’ll cover how you can fly this Canadian airline for free, and how Porter Airlines can fit within your travel/points collecting portfolio.

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Here are 7 Things Canadians Need to Know about Flying with Porter Airlines

1. Porter Airlines Services the Following Destinations

Porter Airlines is a North American airline, that primarily services Canadian routes, with occasional routes to the US. If you are looking for a domestic flight, Porter Airlines should strongly be considered.

Porter Airlines serves various cities within Canada, including Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, Quebec City, St. John’s, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury, among others.

In the U.S., Porter Airlines operated flights to cities such as Boston, Chicago, New York City (Newark), and Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport).

Here is a complete list of the cities serviced by Porter Airlines

You can view the full route map here

2. Porter Airlines has a Streamlined Booking Process

Booking a flight with Porter Airlines is generally an easy and straightforward process. Porter Airlines’ website is designed to be user-friendly, allowing passengers to easily enter their travel details, browse available flight options, and complete the booking process online. The website provides clear instructions, and the steps are intuitive, making it convenient for travelers to book flights without complications.

Additionally, Porter Airlines’ customer support is typically responsive and helpful. If you encounter any difficulties or have questions during the booking process, you can reach out to their customer service for assistance. Overall, with the user-friendly interface and available customer support, the process of booking a flight with Porter Airlines is designed to be as hassle-free as possible for passengers. The steps are as follows:

Step: 1: Go to Porter Airlines’ official website at www.flyporter.com.

Step 2: On the homepage, you’ll find a “book a flight” tab. Enter your departure city, destination, travel dates, and the number of passengers. Click on the “Find Flights” button

Step 3: After entering your travel details, you’ll see a list of available flights matching your criteria. You can filter the results based on your preferences such as flight times and prices.

Step 4: Select Your Flight: Choose the flight that best suits your schedule and budget. Click on the flight you want to book to see the detailed itinerary and fare options.

Step 5: Enter the required passenger information, including names, contact details, and any other necessary details.

Step 6: Porter Airlines may offer additional services or extras such as seat selection, travel insurance, or in-flight amenities & baggage. You can add these to your booking if desired.

Step 7: Double-check all the information you’ve entered, including your travel dates, passenger details, and any extras you’ve selected. Make sure everything is accurate before proceeding.

Step 8: Provide your payment details to complete the booking. Porter Airlines accepts various payment methods, including credit cards and debit cards.

Always make sure to keep a copy of your booking confirmation and any other relevant documents for your records. If you encounter any issues during the booking process, you can contact Porter Airlines’ customer service for assistance.

3. You can buy Porter Airline Tickets in Bulk 

Porter Passes are convenient packages that offer a predetermined number of flight credits—available in options of 10, 20, 50, and 100—at a fixed, discounted rate.

Porter Passes are per flight. A Porter Pass of 10 is 10 one-way flights or 5 round-trip flights. Once you purchase your Porter Passes, you have one year to redeem them.

Typically, buying bulk passes like this only makes sense for those who are traveling often (like those traveling for business).

4. Porter Airlines Has a great In Cabin Experience 

Porter Airlines is well-regarded for its positive in-cabin experience. If you’re flying economy, this is a dream experience.

Porter Airlines is known for its distinctive in-cabin features, including:

• Complimentary Snacks: Porter offered complimentary snacks and beverages to passengers, including a selection of snacks such as nuts and cookies.
• Spacious Seating: The airline operates a fleet of aircraft, which are known for their relatively spacious cabins and comfortable seating.
• Porter Lounges: The airline had lounges at select airports, including the Toronto Billy Bishop Airport. These lounges provided a comfortable pre-flight experience with complimentary snacks, beverages, and Wi-Fi.
• Friendly Service: Passengers praise the friendly and attentive service provided by Porter Airlines’ staff.

Porter Airlines currently maintains a fleet predominantly composed of Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft, with its main hub situated at Toronto’s downtown airport and additional bases in Ottawa and Halifax. Operating flights from Thunder Bay to St. John’s, the majority of Porter’s routes either commence or conclude at Toronto-Billy Bishop, though they also offer services from other cities.

Introducing a new chapter in their aviation offerings, Porter Airlines has embraced the Embraer E195-E2, positioning these cutting-edge aircraft at Toronto-Pearson. Pioneering the North American debut of the Embraer E195-E2, Porter now deploys these aircraft to connect major Canadian cities with Toronto, with select routes extending through Ottawa.

As Porter continues to augment its fleet, the airline envisions an expanded route network. The potential destinations listed by Porter reflect the ongoing evolution of their service offerings. For the latest and most comprehensive information on Porter Airlines’ fleet composition, routes, and projected destinations, it is advisable to refer to the official airline website or engage with its customer service channels. Airlines regularly adapt their operational strategies to meet evolving travel demands and industry dynamics.

Here is a video of the Porter Airlines inflight experience by Youtuber the Global Peasant

Porter Airlines Has 2 Different Cabin Classes

Porter Reserve

PorterReserve fares include:

• Dedicated check-in
• Early boarding
• Increased legroom
• Food on flights >2.5 hours
• Complimentary premium cocktails
• Two free checked bags
• The ability to change flights without a fee

PorterReserve is included on both aircraft types. It should be noted that PorterReserve does NOT come with lounge access.

Porter Classic

PorterClassic fares include:

• Free beer and wine

5. Porter Airlines Has a Loyalty Program 

Porter Airlines has a loyalty program called “VIPorter.” The VIPorter program is designed to reward frequent travelers with various benefits, including priority boarding, lounge access, and bonus points for every flight.

Earning VIPorter Points

VIPorter Miles are earned by spending money with Porter Airlines. You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible expenses

VIPorter points are awarded for every dollar spent on :

• Base rates
• Seat selection fees
• Change fees
• Checked baggage fee

Flyers will have the ability to earn a points multiplier if you spend enough money with Porter to qualify for Avid Traveler status.

Avid Traveler Status Tiers

There are 5 VIPorter status levels. Your VIPorter Avid Traveler status is linked to your expenses per calendar year :

• VIPorter Member: up to $1,999
• VIPorter Passport: between $2,000 and $2,999
• VIPorter Venture: between $3,000 and $5,999
• VIPorter Ascent: between $6,000 and $9,999
• VIPorter First: $10,000 and over

The airline’s loyalty program doesn’t typically garner significant interest, as Aeroplan takes up a lot of bandwidth here in Canada, but this program can certainly help Canadians who are looking to travel in North America.

6. Porter Airlines Does Not Have a Branded Credit Card

Porter Airlines does not have a branded credit card of its own. However, partnerships and offerings can change over time, and new financial products may be introduced.

7. You Can Still Fly Porter Airlines on Points 

Even though Porter Airlines doesn’t have a branded credit card, you can still access free flights with Porter via credit card points. This is because there are a few travel programs that allow you to redeem rewards towards any travel booked on the card (including flights with Porter)

Scene+ Rewards

One of these programs is Scene+ Rewards, the Rewards program offered through Scotiabank. 

Scene points can be redeemed towards any travel booked on your card at a rate of 1 cent/point. So, if a Porter flight costs $200, you can pay for it with 20,000 Scene points. 

There are several credit cards in the market that earn you a ton of Scene points through their sign-up bonuses.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite is the best way to do this

The $150 fee (waived in the first year) comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 25,000 Scene+ points upon spending $1,000 in the first three months
  • 10,000 Scene+ points upon spending $40,000 in the first year
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 Scene+ pts/dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway and FreshCo
  • 2 Scene+ pts/dollar spent on transit, food and entertainment
  • 1 Scene+ pt/dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $1,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $2,500
  • Flight Delay insurance – up to $500 if your flight is delayed >4 hours
• Perks
  • No foreign transaction fees
• Lounge Access
  • 6 complimentary Priority Pass visits

TD Rewards

TD Rewards are a type of loyalty rewards program offered by TD. The TD rewards program allows TD customers to earn points on their eligible credit card purchases, and these points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, such as flights with Portner Airlines.

Cardholders earn points by receiving a new application “welcome bonus” and using their eligible TD Rewards credit card for everyday spending. The points earned can then be used to offset travel-related expenses, which is a popular choice for many customers.

WHAT ARE THE TOP TD REWARDS CREDIT CARDS?

TD offers a basic, core & premium version of their TD Rewards cards

	Basic	Core	Enhanced
Card Name	TD Rewards Visa	TD Platinum Travel Visa	TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite
Sign up Bonus	up to 19,697 TD Rewards	up to 50,000 TD Rewards	up to 115,000 TD Rewards
Annual Fee	$0	$89	$139
Earn Rate	6 points per dollar spent in the Expedia for TD portal 4.5 points per dollar on grocery & dining 3 points per dollar on recurring bill payments 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything else	6 points per dollar spent in the Expedia for TD portal 4.5 points per dollar on grocery & dining 3 point per dollar on recurring bill payments 1.5 points per dollar spent on everything else	8 points per dollar spent in the Expedia for TD portal 6 points per dollar on grocery & dining 4 points per dollar on recurring bill payments 2 points per dollar spent on everything else
Card Benefits	Save up to 10% with Budget & Avis car rental in Canada or the US, and 5% internationally	Save up to 10% with Budget & Avis car rental in Canada or the US, and 5% internationally	Cardholders receive a $100 credit on accommodations and vacation packages booked through Expedia for TD. Save up to 10% with Budget & Avis car rental in Canada or the US, and 5% internationally
Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance	No	No	Yes
Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance	No	Yes	Yes
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance	No	No	Yes
Auto Rental Collision Coverage	No	Yes	Yes

Note: There is also a business version of the TD Platinum Travel Visa

REDEEMING TD REWARDS

You can redeem TD Rewards in one of 6 ways:

• Redeeming for travel in the Expedia for TD travel portal
• Redeem for travel
• Statement credits
• At Amazon.ca
• Merchandise
• Educational credits

Expedia for Rewards

You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, and vacation packages within the Expedia for TD portal, which is basically Expedia with a TD logo slapped on the homepage.

Within the Expedia for TD portal, TD rewards can be redeemed at a rate of 200 points/dollar. This gives this redemption option a value of 0.5 cents/points

The minimum amount of points that can be redeemed is 200 TD Rewards. This is a great option for flying with Porter

If you do decide to book a flight with a major airline, you’ll still accrue elite-qualifying miles/segments as long as your frequent flyer number is attached to the booking.

Redeeming Against Travel Purchases

TD Rewards points can be redeemed for any travel purchases made against the card. These can include:

• Air Travel (including flights with Porter
• Airport Services
• Hotel Stays
• Vacation Rentals
• Theme Park Tickets
• Excursions

Redemption for this is 250 TD Rewards per dollar (0.4 cents/point)

CIBC Aventura

CIBC Aventura Points are a type of loyalty rewards program offered by CIBC. The Aventura program allows CIBC customers to earn points on their eligible credit card purchases, and these points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, such as flights (with Porter), hotel stays, vacation packages, merchandise, and more.

Generally, cardholders earn points by receiving a new application “welcome bonus” and using their eligible CIBC Aventura credit card for everyday spending. The points earned can then be used to offset travel-related expenses, which is a popular choice for many customers.

WHAT ARE THE TOP CIBC AVENTURA CREDIT CARDS?

CIBC offers a basic, core & premium version of their Aventura cards

	Basic	Core	Enhanced
Card Name	CIBC Aventura	CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite	CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
Sign up Bonus	up to 2,500 Aventura points	up to 35,000 Aventura points	up to 80,000 Aventura points
Annual Fee	$0	$139	$499
Earn Rate	1 point per dollar spent at the CIBC Rewards Centre  1 point per dollar on gas 1 point per dollar on groceries 1 point per $2.00 spent on everything else	2 points per dollar spent at the CIBC Rewards Centre  1.5 points per dollar on gas 1.5 points per dollar on groceries 1 point per dollar spent on everything else	3 point per dollar spent at the CIBC Rewards Centre  2 points per dollar on gas 2 point per dollar on groceries, dining & entertainment 1.25 points per dollar spent on everything else
Card Benefits	Save up to 10¢ per litre at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Chevron gas stations	4 complimentary DragonPass  visits per membership year $50 Nexus rebate	6 complimentary DragonPass  visits per membership year $100 Nexus rebate (up to 2 people) $200 annual travel credit
Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance	No	Yes	Yes
Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance	No	Yes	Yes
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance	No	Yes	Yes
Auto Rental Collision Coverage	No	Yes	Yes

Note: There are also business versions of each card

REDEEMING AVENTURA POINTS

You can redeem Aventura in one of 6 ways:

• Aventura Airline Rewards Chart flight redemptions,
• CIBC Rewards Travel Centre,
• Shopping with points,
• Statement credits,
• Financial products,
• Merchandise

Shopping, Financial products, and merchandise do represent good value for your Aventura points.

Aventura Airline Rewards Chart

If you would like to redeem your Aventura points for Porter flights, you can leverage CIBC’s distance-based reward chart

• Canada & US Short Haul – 10,000 to 20,000 Aventura
  • Within a province, territory, or U.S. state or to an adjoining province, territory, or U.S. state.
• Canada & US Long Haul – 25,000 to 35,000 Aventura
  • From any location in Canada or the U.S. to any location in Canada or U.S. (except Hawaii and Alaska).
• Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Central American, Caribbean – 40,000 to 60,000 Aventura
  • From any location in Canada or the U.S. to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Bermuda, Central America, or the Caribbean.
• Europe – 50,000 to 70,000 Aventura
  • From a major gateway in Canada or the U.S. to select destinations in Europe.
• Rest of the world – 75,000 to 125,000 Aventura
  • From a major gateway in Canada or the U.S. to select destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, the Middle East, or South America.

Leveraging this award chart, you can expect to see a redemption value of 0.5 cents per point to 2 cents per point. It’s worth pointing out that CIBC has occasionally offered discount redemptions for Porter flights.

CIBC Rewards Travel Centre

Aventura points can be applied at a rate of 1 cent per point when redeeming through CIBC’s in-house travel portal. This can be a good option if you want to redeem your Aventura points for Porter flights. This option can be compared to the award chart, and you can source a better deal.

Statement Credits

You can apply CIBC Aventura points toward your credit card statement balance through the “Payment with Points” feature at a rate of (0.625 cents per point). Therefore, a $25 purchase would cost you 4,000 Aventura points.

This can be a great option for cash purchases with airlines like Porter, or for car rentals like enterprise

Other Programs You Can Leverage for Flights with Porter

BMO Rewards

Air Miles

Conclusion

flying with Porter Airlines offers a distinctive and refreshing travel experience that goes beyond the ordinary, especially for those looking to fly economy within North America. From the revamped VIPorter loyalty program to the introduction of the state-of-the-art Embraer E195-E2 fleet, Porter is redefining air travel for its passengers.

The airline’s commitment to providing comfort, convenience, and a touch of luxury shines through in every aspect of the journey. Whether it’s the guarantee of avoiding the middle seat, the allure of free Wi-Fi, or the thoughtful details like serving complimentary meals and drinks in glassware, Porter Airlines stands out as a unique choice for those seeking an elevated and enjoyable economy-class travel experience. As Porter continues to expand its fleet and network, the future promises even more exciting possibilities for travelers looking for a distinctive and customer-focused airline.